Sports
Eagles prepare for NAIA Cross Country Championships
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Christian University men's cross country team, along with two individual women qualifiers, will head to Vancouver, Wash. for the NAIA National Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
After a long season with up and down performances, the men's cross country team took care of business at the conference meet by winning and earning their ticket to the national meet. Nicole Lair and Melyssa Cardenas placed high enough individually in the women’s race to qualify as well.
OC head coach Mark Thompson feels that his team, which is ranked No. 11 in the final NAIA national coaches’ top 25 poll, has the potential to run well and place even higher but knows that it will take each runner’s best effort to do so.
“While 11th is good, it isn’t great, so I hope we can put our best foot forward when it counts,” Thompson said. “A top 10 finish would be a good day but a top five finish would take everyone running their very best and making no mistakes.”
Silas Kisorio has led the Eagle pack all year and Thompson feels confident about his upcoming performance at nationals.
“Silas has not yet run head to head against his main competitors this season, but based on the season’s results we know he will be with the lead pack,” Thompson said.
In addition to the men’s team, Lair and Cardenas will join the men on the trip and race for individual place at the national meet.
“Nicole and Melyssa are both running very strong again after some illness and day-to-day injuries during the season,” Thompson said. “I am confident that both will run their best at nationals.”
Lair led the Lady Eagles all year and now will have the chance to finish the season with a high caliber race.
“Nicole will finish out her cross country career at OC with this race, and I know she wants to leave her Mark,” Thompson said.
The meet will be hosted at the Fort Vancouver Historical Site in Vancouver, Wash. with the men racing first at 10:30 a.m. and the women following at 11:45 a.m.
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